"Back already? How did it go? Is everything okay?"

After the program recording was completed, Xu Qingqiu returned to the Capital from Lanjiang Province the next day, and Sister Hua had also just rushed back from outside.

As soon as she entered the studio, Sister Hua heard their arrival and hurried over.

Xu Qingqiu didn't look well, and Li Chunhua quickly ushered her into the office.

Chu Tian had been in the recording studio playing music. When he heard the commotion, he came out to take a look. Seeing Xu Qingqiu had returned, he followed them.

When he entered, he naturally keyed in the password, then casually closed the door and sat on the sofa behind everyone.

Sister Hua and Yiyi glanced at him but said nothing. Despite previous unpleasantness, they had known each other for many years and already considered him one of their own, so they didn't mind.

Only, a flicker of confusion crossed Yiyi's young mind.

Did he just type in the password to get in? Or did I forget to close the door?

Before she could figure it out, Sister Hua spoke again, interrupting her train of thought.

"Qingqiu, are you alright?"

After everyone found a seat, Xu Qingqiu looked up at Chu Tian, managed a faint smile as a greeting, and then said, "Sister Hua, it's nothing serious. As expected, that program was set up to trip me up, but I countered them right then and there."

She recounted what had happened on the show.

Yiyi, sitting beside her, was so angry her face turned red, and her small fists clenched. If it weren't inappropriate, she would have started cursing long ago.

Sister Hua's face was also ashen. Ultimately, this incident was her responsibility. She had initially thought a major network like Lanjiang TV wouldn't stoop to such underhanded tactics, but it seemed she had been too naive.

"I see. It seems Lanjiang TV is in cahoots with Baise Entertainment, hell-bent on targeting us."

WHEW.

Li Chunhua let out a long breath, then looked at Xu Qingqiu with a serious expression and said, "Since that's the case, then from now on, we'll sever ties with Lanjiang TV. What do you want to do next?"

Xu Qingqiu nodded without hesitation. She was thoroughly disgusted by Lanjiang TV's dirty tricks and had no desire for further cooperation, immediately blacklisting them.

She couldn't openly challenge them; she didn't have that kind of power. After all, they were a first-tier television network, and their scale was not something she could compare to.

But if she couldn't afford to offend them, surely she could refuse to cooperate, right?

"Let's do as I said before. Sister Hua, I'll have to trouble you to contact a few more music programs, preferably ones scheduled for more than a month from now. Also, see if we can acquire a few songs, perhaps try reaching out to some senior figures in the industry."

"I'll contact Unlimited Entertainment and see if we can buy a new song from Youmeng."

"Aren't they planning to release an album? Don't they want to use me as a stepping stone? An album showdown isn't feasible, so I'll release singles and appear on programs to establish my popularity first."

Li Chunhua had no objections to this proposal. It had been discussed before, and she also felt it was the most appropriate approach.

"Alright then. You contact Youmeng. Knowing it's you, he'll probably agree out of consideration for you. I'll do my best on my end."

"Sister Hua, what influence do I have? I still don't even know who Youmeng is, or why he would help me," Xu Qingqiu said with a bitter smile, her gaze repeatedly drifting towards Chu Tian. Her face showed a mix of unease and awkwardness; she wanted to explain but was at a loss for words.

Chu Tian, however, hadn't noticed her expression, his attention entirely on their earlier conversation.

He had a general idea of what happened on the night of the drinking incident, as Yiyi, that little chatterbox, had filled him in on all the details.

He had thought that was the end of it, but it turned out there was more.

After hearing about her experience recording the program yesterday, Chu Tian was also shocked. Does Lanjiang TV really engage in so many underhanded dealings? Have they no shame at all?

From Xu Qingqiu's injury during "The Sound of Nature," the entire production team's indifference, unprofessionalism, and lack of humanity, to the subsequent interviews and this current variety show...

To Chu Tian, this television station seemed rotten to the core, filled with dregs who used their size and influence to prey on others.

However, after thinking for a moment about Lanjiang TV's location, he understood. It seemed to be a sort of tradition there.

In the world he remembered, this same television station was notorious for its shady dealings, both within the industry and online. From a certain actor surnamed Gao to a later singer surnamed Li, every incident highlighted numerous problems with the station. Yet, they remained smug, and to say they feasted on 'human blood steamed buns' was no exaggeration. Moreover, every program at the station was rife with manipulation. For money, they abandoned even basic moral principles. They were fully aware of artists breaking the law but would still use them without a second thought as long as it was profitable. It could be said that from top to bottom, the station lacked morals, had no bottom line, disregarded the law, and even lacked any sense of patriotism. If not for some level of oversight, they were capable of anything.

It was good not to cooperate with such a television station. It seemed he, too, should steer clear of them in the future to avoid getting dragged into any mess.

When he heard Xu Qingqiu wanted to ask him for a song, he couldn't help but smile bitterly inwardly, having a fair idea of her intentions.

"Are you alright? What are you thinking about?"

The brief meeting had quickly ended, and Xu Qingqiu had approached Chu Tian at some point, looking at him with concern.

"Ah? I'm fine. You just got back, aren't you tired? Don't you want to rest a bit?"

Seeing the exhaustion on her face, Chu Tian couldn't help but frown.

"What? Are you worried about me?" Xu Qingqiu asked boldly, looking at him with a joyful glint in her eyes.

"This... you..."

Her direct question made Chu Tian's face turn bright red. He was about to deny it when a jolt went through him—he realized that was indeed how he felt, and it threw him into a complete fluster.

"Well, uh, you should go home and rest. I'm going to practice the piano."

After saying this, he hurried away, not even daring to look at Xu Qingqiu's face.

Watching his hasty retreat, Xu Qingqiu's smile widened for some reason.

Although there were many matters she needed to handle personally, recalling Chu Tian's words, Xu Qingqiu hesitated for a moment but still decided to go home and rest first.

After all, it's rare for him to show concern; I should listen to him.

She went home cheerfully, while Chu Tian remained in the recording studio, feeling a sense of wistful loss.

For some reason, countless images suddenly flooded his mind, all of them featuring Xu Qingqiu, spanning several years.

From their first meeting, to the incidents that followed, to his university days when a girl, always bundled up tightly, would often watch him from a distance, and then to him later joining this studio.

Everything played out like a movie, like a vivid, crystal-clear flashback.

SIGH.

He hadn't realized this girl had silently done so much for him—not just for a day or two, but for many years.

Unknowingly, they had known each other for almost ten years. Ten years...

Gradually, Chu Tian's thoughts began to clear. A smile touched his lips, and an idea started to form in his mind.

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